Overview
- Kolkata Knight Riders confirmed the release of longtime all-rounder Andre Russell ahead of IPL 2026.
- The franchise enters the mini-auction with a reported ₹64.3 crore purse and 13 vacancies, including six overseas slots.
- Former India batter Mohammad Kaif called the call a mistake and attributed it to new head coach Abhishek Nayar’s influence, as stated on his channel.
- Auction analyses identify Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and even KKR as likely bidders for Russell, with CSK holding about ₹43.4 crore.
- A video of Russell training in Deccan Gladiators’ yellow kit prompted CSK chatter on social media, and separate claims of backchannel talks remain unverified by the teams.